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My First Look at T-Mobile’s Unique Starlink T-Satellite Service Made Me Head Far From Home

Even 120 miles from town in a cellular dead zone, I was able to stay in contact with my family using the $10-a-month T-Satellite service. And I didn’t need to be on a T-Mobile plan or buy a new phone to do it. Here’s a hands-on report from the woods.

Is T-Mobile’s new T-Satellite service worth $10 a month to be able to text from almost anywhere outside cellular coverage areas? The Starlink-based satellite service can be a convenience if you’re camping or hiking remote areas, but also a communications lifeline for people who don’t have regular cellular access or need emergency aid.

To test it out, though, I had to find a cellular dead zone. T-Mobile estimates there are 500,000 square miles in the US with no cell coverage, so I left my home in Seattle to find one. After three hours of driving to the wooded North Cascades, I got my chance to see if satellite texting is as easy as everyday cellular texting, and how T-Satellite differs from other satellite services.

How T-Satellite differs from other satellite services

Satellite texting is now a big deal: The wireless providers and phone-makers, including Apple, are betting satellite connectivity is the answer for travelers and people who live in remote areas (and even those impacted by emergencies such as the massive flooding in Texas).

It also isn’t new. Apple started offering SOS communication backed by Globalstar on the iPhone 14. And later, that allowed emergency texting when you’re outside coverage areas — a literal lifesaver for people injured, lost or stranded in remote areas. The feature also allowed you to share your location via satellite in the Find My app. Apple then expanded the service to include any texting using the Messages app, as well as calling for roadside assistance. CNET’s David Lumb used Messages via satellite on his iPhone 15 Pro to text friends and share his thoughts when he summited Mount Haleakalā’s peak in Hawaii.

Google has a similar feature in its Pixel 9 phones, except the Pixel 9A, which works with satellite provider Skylo. Samsung Galaxy phones, like the recently released Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, can use Verizon for satellite texting and to contact emergency services through Skylo, too.

However, that communication involves a few steps to activate the feature. You need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky — no trees or buildings — and point your phone at a passing satellite, keeping it steady to maintain the connection.

With T-Satellite, the experience is quite different. Texting is almost indistinguishable from when you’re within cellular coverage. On a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with a T-Mobile plan, opening the Messages app showed the phone already connected to satellite, with a banner reading «You’re messaging by satellite.» A small satellite icon appears in the menu bar with radiating curves to indicate the status of the connection.

This is due in part to the fact that there are now more than 650 Starlink satellites overhead providing wider coverage, but also because they use a frequency band compatible with most phones sold in the last four years. You don’t need a specific phone model that has satellite messaging hardware, such as the Motorola Razr Ultra.

The experience of using T-Satellite on my iPhone 16 Pro was generally the same. One unique thing about T-Satellite is that T-Mobile is offering the service to anyone, even if they use another carrier for cellular service. In my case, I had earlier set up the T-Satellite beta using the second eSIM slot on my phone, and turned off the primary service (AT&T) in order to test just T-Mobile’s feature.

I should note that I performed this testing a couple days before T-Satellite went live, so it was technically during the T-Satellite beta period, and using a beta version of the Messages app on Android.

Plus, I didn’t attempt to make an emergency call, either, which on the T-Satellite service would mean dialing 911 in the phone app, versus initiating an SOS text communication using Apple’s service.

Texting, but sometimes slower

Mostly, texting via satellite is just like texting via cellular. The data pipe between the phone and a satellite flying overhead at 17,000 miles per hour is small, so occasionally texts would take several seconds to go through. But sometimes a conversation would happen without any extended lag. By comparison, when CNET’s Patrick Holland tested Apple’s Messages via satellite feature, he noted that «most sends were nearly instantaneous, others took 15 to 20 seconds with one taking over a minute.»

One feature on Android is the ability to send images, videos and audio files using Multimedia Messaging Service over the satellite network. On the Galaxy S25 Ultra, I snapped a photo of the lake and sent it using Messages as I normally would. The only difference over satellite is that it took around two and a half minutes to send.

However, MMS is currently only supported on Android; iOS support is coming later. Also arriving in the future — October, specifically — is the ability for apps to send and receive data over the satellite connection. T-Mobile has cited AllTrails and WhatsApp as examples of apps that’ll be compatible with the service.

This would be a great use of data for other mapping tools. Although I was never lost on this trip — I pulled into a well-marked scenic overlook to test with a stunning view — I also made a point of downloading an offline map of the area using Apple Maps while I was still within cellular range. 

Lingering questions and challenges

Not every message went through, and after my limited testing, there are a few areas where more clarity would help.

For example, on Android, it wasn’t always obvious when I’d lost the satellite connection. In theory, with many Starlink satellites overhead, you shouldn’t have to worry about pointing at a specific patch of sky to maintain a connection. But at one point after sending a message, some text below it said the app was waiting to connect. Only then did I notice the tiny satellite icon was showing thin gray bars instead of thin black bars.

Compare that to Apple’s implementation, which uses Dynamic Island to show an impossible-to-miss green status button to indicate a solid connection to a satellite. Or Google’s Satellite SOS service, with its full-screen visual prompts that help you stay connected to a satellite or connect to a new one if needed.

I also ran into some confusion with my iPhone 16 Pro running T-Satellite as a secondary eSIM. When attempting to text a friend who came along with me and was using Apple’s method on his iPhone, I got a message that he was connected via satellite and was given the option to tap Send via Satellite. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the connection dropped as I was typing the text. On further research, I discovered that an active third-party satellite connection in iOS shows «SAT» in the menu bar. When SAT is replaced by a black satellite icon, it means T-Satellite is no longer connected, but that Apple’s satellite option is available; I thought it meant that I was still connected.

Look up, and ahead

Will satellite services cover the remaining dead zones and allow easy communication even in remote areas? Based on my experience, the potential is definitely there. It’s been less than two years since Apple first launched Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone and it’s impressive how satellite connectivity has expanded so quickly with the ability to support texting. I appreciate that the T-Satellite implementation is similar to the way millions of people communicate every day via text. Removing friction is key to adopting technologies like this.

As companies build up the capacity and performance of satellite services, it’s easy to see a near future where you don’t have to think about how you’re getting data, just as we currently don’t ever think about which cellular tower is relaying our data.

As someone who lives in cellular-saturated Seattle, I probably won’t need to rely on satellite data. But the North Cascades is where I’ve gone camping for years, so I can see it being occasionally useful, especially if there’s ever an emergency situation.

As I was juggling my phones and pestering my friends and family with texts, a couple approached to ask what I was doing. They were visiting the area from a small town in northern Idaho near the Canadian border, where cellular coverage is a rarity. After talking for a few minutes, I realized that being able to connect wirelessly via satellite could be a real boon for them, especially in emergencies, but also everyday annoyances when other forms of communication aren’t available, like during power outages.

Technologies

Google’s Powerful New AI Model Can Solve Your Most Complex Problems. If You Can Afford It

Gemini 2.5 Deep Think has scored well in math competitions, and a version of it is now available for those who fork over $250 a month.

A supercharged version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 large language model recently reached gold medal status at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Now you can ask a version of it (only a bronze medalist) to answer your toughest math questions. Like, how am I going to pay $250 a month for this AI subscription?

Naturally, this new version of Google’s Gemini 2.5 Deep Think is designed for complicated questions that require much more work than you’d expect from a free or cheap AI chatbot. Google said it’s designed to handle prompts that require strategic planning, creativity and deep reasoning. 

Google’s making it available now to subscribers of the company’s $250-per-month AI Ultra plan. That subscription, first announced earlier this year at Google’s I/O developer conference, is a steep price to pay for generative AI tools. The tech giant teased then that this model would be among the offerings to make that price worthwhile. (You can still access other Gemini models either for free or at a $20-per-month tier.)

Generative AI developers are intent on building ever more powerful models, and one big way they’re doing so is by expanding their ability for research and increasing the amount of time these models can work. OpenAI has a Deep Research tool for ChatGPT users, and Google’s Gemini has a tool by the same name for all users. 

While those research modes allow models more time, Deep Think uses «parallel thinking» to consider different ideas at once, combining or revising them as it goes. Deep Think also just has more time to think and process, which helps it find better answers but also costs more money and uses more computing power.

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Technologies

These Are the Switch 2 Launch Games You Should Actually Consider

Cyberpunk 2077 leads the pack but Fast Fusion and Bravely Default also make for interesting gameplay.

The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t been out long but it’s still somewhat disappointing that not many new games are available yet to use the new hardware. Yes, Donkey Kong Bananza is probably the biggest hit for the Switch successor that everyone should pick up but aside from that and Mario Kart World, there’s not much else to get. 

For those who are still looking for something else to play on their Switch 2, here’s a list of some of the more interesting launch games to pick in the meantime. 

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

Aside from Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077 is the most impressive launch game for the Switch 2. Not only does the game look great but it runs incredibly well. Even better than the Steam Deck. CD Projekt Red did an incredible job making arguably the best-looking Switch 2 game.

There is, however, a catch: Night City, which is huge for a video game map, is practically empty. This is a significant compromise as the other versions of Cyberpunk feature a living, robust city. Granted, the roaming NPCs didn’t do much to affect your game but they provided that feeling of being in a sprawling city landscape. 

Aside from that, Cyberpunk on the Switch 2 has fast loading times, makes use of ray-tracing and has a steady frame rate, and it’s likely there will be subtle improvements over the course of multiple updates. This version also makes use of the touchscreen during hacking and there is some use of the motion controls when playing. 

The key thing with Cyberpunk on the Switch 2 is understanding who this is for. As this comes with the Phantom Liberty DLC, this version of the game is solely for those Switch 2 owners who never played the game. They’ll be in for a treat but if you played any version of Cyberpunk, there is little reason to spend money on this game. 

Fast Fusion

Fast Fusion is the other launch racing game for the Switch 2, with a look and feel similar to the Wipeout series found on the PlayStation consoles. The futuristic racing game is considerably more affordable than the other launch titles at only $15, but it’s appropriate, as the game doesn’t have much content. 

In Fast Fusion, players drive a hover-racer that reaches speeds of 500 mph, although races aren’t just about who can go the fastest. The courses have a unique dynamic where players have to switch their vehicle’s colors from red to blue. If the color matches the boost lanes found throughout the track then the vehicle will hit top speeds while obtaining a bit of boost to use at any time during the race. However, if your vehicle’s color doesn’t match, then it will slow down considerably. 

The tracks are futuristic-looking and have different obstacles, such as giant fans and boulders. The tracks’ structures are also dangerous, as vehicles can do a hop that, if done at the wrong time, can lead them to smash right into a building or platform. Players can also spin out other racers by timing their boosts just right. 

While the racing is fun, that’s all there is to the game. Winning races earns you money to access new races and vehicles, but that’s about it. There’s no online play, but there is split-screen multiplayer. 

In a way, Fast Fusion seems barebones, but then it dawns on you that it’s only $15. This is one of those games to purchase if you feel an urgent need to play an arcade racing game with superfast speeds. 

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster

One of the few games that’s truly an upgrade for the Switch 2 launch titles is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Square Enix remastered the 2012 3DS game Bravely Default and, while it’s a big improvement, it’s still a remaster, meaning it’s not doing anything particularly huge with the original game. 

Bravely Default HD Remaster is a turn-based JRPG that has a unique job system. A character can change from one job to another, bringing the skills they learned to the new job, such as having a monk know black magic or a red mage able to trap monsters like they’re Pokemon. It’s developing those character job combos that make the game so interesting to play, even though its storyline has the typical fantasy plot found in many JRPGs.

Because it’s a remaster, this version of Bravely Default has upgraded visuals from the 2012 Nintendo 3DS game, making it look more modern. There’s also reorchestrated music, voice cutscenes and some quality-of-life improvements over the original, like autosaves and an in-game glossary to understand everything about the game. The Switch 2 also helps in making the game a bit snappier when loading and going in and out of menus. But if you want the original 3DS experience, there is a «Legacy Mode» that takes you back to 2012. 

With a price of $40, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is an easy pickup for anyone in need of a JRPG to play.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

If there is a truly unique game, it’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Not just because of how much it draws from Japanese folklore but also because it’s an interesting take on the tower defense formula. 

In Kunitsu-Gami, players control Soh, who is a warrior defending a maiden with the help of villagers. The gameplay involves placing villagers in certain positions to fend off waves of monsters while, at the same time, Soh has to go around attacking the enemies directly with typical hack-and-slash gameplay. After battles, players do a bit of strategizing by leveling up the villagers and Soh to face the next day’s onslaught of enemies. The fun comes down to having to actually think about what’s going on at all times, instead of sitting back like in a typical tower defense game or just mindlessly button-mashing.

As for graphics, Kunitsu-Gami is not a visual giant, but the game has a charm to it. The cel-shaded look and lighting give it a fantastical look, which works for the game’s folklore roots. As it’s not so graphically intensive, you get plenty of time playing the game before the Switch 2 battery empties, too. 

For $40, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a game to pick up for those who want an action game with a change of pace. For those willing to wait, it is likely that publisher Capcom will drop the price by the time the holidays roll around. 

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening

Let me make this very clear for those unfamiliar with this series: Nobunaga’s Ambition is the driest of strategy games. There are some high-profile samurai games set in feudal Japan, such as Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and the upcoming Ghost of Yotei, but do not get it twisted. This game isn’t about recruiting samurai to take down a warlord; it’s about figuring out the right amount of rice is needed so your people won’t starve. 

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening is one of the oldest turn-based strategy video game franchises. It originated in Japan in the early ’80s and made its way to the US on the NES. Players step into the role of a daimyo and have to expand their lands while also being diplomatic with other leaders. 

There is no «action» in the game. You will have to read a lot and figure out the best strategy to win. It’s a very slow and complex game, which, funnily enough, longtime fans of the franchise will say is more streamlined and dumbed down from previous entries in the series. There aren’t really any «visuals» other than world maps, character portraits and so many menus. Your fingers will get numb from constantly turning pages to read everything. 

If you love methodical, turn-based strategy games and are super interested in feudal Japan, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening is likely worth the $60. If that description doesn’t fit you, steer clear.

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Technologies

Today Only: You Can Grab Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for Just $100 if You’re Quick

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro deliver great sound quality, and right now, they can be yours for less.

While the new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro may have taken the older model off our list of 2025’s top wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are still plenty good enough for a lot of people. If you’ve been looking to invest in a pair, now is the time to make the move.

Right now, Best Buy is offering the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in black for just $100 — that’s a massive $130 discount for today only. It’s just $10 more than the lowest price we have seen on these, but it ends at midnight, so we recommend acting fast while you can.

CNET audio expert David Carnoy found a lot to love about these earbuds in his initial review, noting their comfortable stemless design, excellent sound quality and impressive voice-call performance. The noise-canceling capabilities won’t compete with pricey, premium pairs like the Sony WF-1000XM5, but are decent for the price. They also boast an IPX7 water-resistance rating and have a battery life of up to 18 hours with ANC on.

It’s also important to note that these earbuds are designed as a companion for Samsung phones, and there are a few features that are only available when paired with a Galaxy device. That includes virtual surround sound, hands-free voice assistance and new AI-powered features like real-time translation.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Fortunately, there are plenty of Galaxy S25 deals or offers on the previous S24 series available right now to help you get one of these powerful Android phones in your hand for less.

There are plenty of other excellent earbuds and headphones on sale right now, and Apple users will want to check out our roundup of all the best AirPods deals as well.

Why this deal matters

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro would normally cost you $230, and while there are plenty of people who paid that price for them, it’s not necessary with deals like this. While the new version of these earbuds is technically better, they’re nowhere near this price, so this is an excellent deal.

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